"What? Not the Landgriz, but the Laz Angriff?"
"Yes. Lemon-sama said she built the Anjurg for W17 but couldn't make a dedicated machine for me, so I should use her own unit."
On the bridge of the Nebuland, en route to the site where Blackbird Squad was decimated, I listened to Echidna's report. Apparently, Lemon, in her playful way, had handed over her personal Laz Angriff to Echidna.
That left the Landgriz free, so we could've brought Lamia along. But when I mentioned it, Echidna shook her head.
"W17 is currently optimized for the Anjurg. Putting her in the Landgriz would only yield slightly better performance than a mass-produced W."
Guess we'll have to wait for tech advancements on that front.
"Well, no use complaining about what we've got. Besides, we're up against a tough enemy this time. I should be thanking Lemon for giving you a high-performance unit, not griping."
"Yes, I think Lemon-sama would appreciate that."
"Captain, we're approaching Blackbird Squad's Arcland for rendezvous," a crew member announced.
Almost simultaneously, the monitor displayed the Trilobite-class ship Arcland. From the outside, it looked heavily battered—moderate damage, at best. It'd need a dock at Fremont Industries or Z&R to be operational again.
"Captain Axel, I'm sorry. We let Klar die on our watch."
The first words over the comm were an apology. The man on the monitor looked familiar—one of Klar's subordinates.
"How many survivors?" I asked.
"Six. The Arcland's still functional, barely."
If not for Lemon's automation tech, we'd have had to scrap a Trilobite-class ship.
"Hm. Guess it's faster to get the details now. You said the enemy was the Space Force's Troye Unit?"
"Yes. One of our former Space Force guys confirmed it, so it's solid."
"How many?"
"Twelve units total. We took down two, so ten remain… unless they've been reinforced."
"Troye's an elite unit; replacements won't come easy. Got it. Leave the rest to us. Take the Arcland and rendezvous with Vindel's main force. Await orders."
"Understood. Avenge Klar for us, Captain."
The Arcland's comm cut off, and the ship limped toward the rear.
Troye Unit, huh? Their units were Garlions, right? No, specifically the Garlion V-type—Garlion Customs, with enhanced mobility.
"Captain, enemy units detected. Ten in total, all Garlion-types. Contact in five minutes."
"Got it. Echidna, let's move out."
My Grow Savior, Echidna's Laz Angriff, and three mass-produced W El Eins units stood ready for the enemy. As usual, I and the El Eins units held the vanguard, with Echidna's Laz Angriff providing rear support and issuing orders to the El Eins.
Poised to give the attack command, I spotted ten Garlion Customs emerging from the horizon, their formation so precise it could've been textbook.
"Here they come."
Their disciplined approach was flawless, advancing in perfect unison. Then, as if recognizing us, all but the lead unit aimed their Burst Railguns at us. The lead Garlion's right hand flashed in a sweeping motion, signaling the others to lower their weapons.
"That unit… I've seen it in footage. Axel Almer, right?"
The voice over the comm was unmistakable—Yuria's.
"Yeah, it's me. Been a while since we've met face-to-face like this."
As if reacting to my response, a Garlion Custom next to Yuria's raised its Burst Railgun again. In turn, our three El Eins units aimed their G-Railguns at it, and Echidna extended the F-Solid Cannon's barrel, locking on.
"You don't know what kind of relationship I have with your captain, but isn't a traitor getting a bit too cocky?"
The voice came through unfazed, despite four guns trained on her. The monitor showed a fierce-looking blonde woman. Of course—Leona Garstein. From the Branstein family's branch line, like Elzam and Rai. In this world, where Myer, Elzam, and Katoria died in the Elpis Incident, she's still with the Troye Unit, just like in the other timeline.
"Leona, stand down. He's… a friend," Yuria said.
"Captain!?" Leona protested.
"Sorry, Axel. My subordinate was out of line."
"No worries. She's not wrong."
Ignoring Leona's objection, Yuria appeared on the monitor. Her face, unlike the confident one I remembered from our academy graduation, was etched with anguish.
"…I'll cut to the chase. Why?"
"Why what?"
"Everything! Why didn't you talk to me before it came to this? Why do something so reckless? Why… why did you cut off all contact with me?"
Her voice, raw with pain, stabbed at my chest.
If it got out that Yuria was in touch with me—a key figure in the rebellion—it'd spell trouble for her. That's why I stopped replying to her messages. Time zone differences meant we never spoke directly, but I avoided her calls, too, assuming she'd tried.
But it hurt her. Yuria, always so composed, now looked like she was fighting back tears. Even Leona seemed stunned, as if seeing her captain like this for the first time.
"Sorry for worrying you. But this is the path I chose. I couldn't drag you into it, could I?"
"But… I wanted you to confide in me," Yuria said softly.
"Captain?" Leona stammered, clearly unaware of our history and thrown off by Yuria's vulnerability. She'd probably expected an immediate fight.
"Axel, surrender quietly. I'll do everything in my power—even risk my life—to make things right for you."
"No chance. You think the Federation military or government would let us off, knowing what we know? And Vindel's not wrong. I'm Shadow Mirror's field commander—I've seen their corruption up close, maybe even more than he has."
"But you're just one unit! Do you really think you can take on the entire Federation military?"
"Who knows?"
Truth is, we've had no shortage of Federation soldiers defecting to join us. But deep down, I know we can't win.
"Axel, face reality!"
"Sorry, but I'm a Shadow Mirror commander. And if I surrendered now, what would I say to the men who died for me?"
Martin's face flashed in my mind, shielding the Nebuland from the Beowulfs to his last breath.
"Then I'll save you, even if I have to do it by force!"
Figured it'd come to that.
"Fair enough. That's more like you—and me. Don't expect me to go easy, though."
"Don't cry about losing to our numbers, either."
"Hmph. You've seen the footage—you know I'm built for taking on crowds."
"Because I've seen it, Axel. You don't think I'd come unprepared, knowing your tricks, do you?"
The tearful expression was gone. The woman on the monitor was now Yuria Heinkel, commander of the Troye Unit, a warrior through and through.
"All units, prepare for combat. We're facing the Federation Space Force's elite Troye Unit. Don't hold back—give it everything you've got."
"All units, prepare for combat. You're up against a single unit that dared defy the Federation. If you've seen the footage, you know not to underestimate them. Fight with everything you have."
Unintentionally, my voice and Yuria's overlapped.
"All units, engage!"
Character Stats: Axel Almer
Level: 23
PP: 50
Melee: 198
Ranged: 216
Skill: 208
Defense: 205
Evasion: 233
Accuracy: 255
SP: 326
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Consumes SP to enhance Slime performance)
Growth Type: All-Rounder/Special
Terrain Adaptability:
Air: S
Land: S
Sea: B
Space: A
Spirit Commands:
Accelerate (SP 4)
Effort (SP 8)
Focus (SP 16)
Direct Hit (SP 20)
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Skills:
EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9 & SP Recovery & Focus)
Psychokinesis Lv.7
Attacker
Gunfight Lv.8
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Kill Count: 75